A Dragon's Body: A New Adult Fantasy Dragon Series (The MINATH Chronicles Book 2)

by A. L. Tippett

  “Come on, Seraphina,” murmured the werewolf, Constantine, as his wet nose nudged her ear. “I’ll help you walk to Urma, but you’ve got to stand up.”

  With a groan, she pushed herself up. Leaning on the wolf’s shoulder she staggered slowly into the Little Bird’s nest. The sphinx was speaking with a snow foxen at a nearby table but turned sharply when she heard Sera’s footsteps.

  “Were you successful? Did you obtain the plans?” the leader of the Little Birds demanded as she padded towards Sera.

  Summoning the strength to speak was difficult, but she managed to mumble out an affirmative.

  “Well done!” she crowed. Urma snaked her lion’s tail around Sera’s shoulders and pulled her upright. “Fantastic work.” Raising her head proudly, she addressed the Little Birds who were gathering around the small group. “Our newest fledgling has completed her initiation. We have the plans for the IRC. We can now start planning our extraction of Skystar. That’s Tormund’s codename,” she added as an aside to Sera. “Come, let’s get those plans downloaded.” She helped Sera over to a desk and sat her down in front of a monitor. Robotically, Sera opened the Downloads folder on the screen of her PSB and initiated the transfer. While they waited for the file to download onto the Little Birds’ system, Urma asked, “So, tell me, what happened? Your mission was a success, yet you appear to be dispirited?”

  “My Soulbound…” she whispered and squeezed her eyes shut as the tears threatened to spill onto her cheeks. She felt herself spiralling into the pits of despair, similar to the feeling she’d had when she’d lost her memories. But this time, she knew exactly what she’d lost. As she wallowed in self-pity, a small voice disrupted her dark thoughts.

  “Her dragon was captured,” Wren said and slipped his small hand into hers. A tiny bubble of warmth lit up her insides at his unexpected show of affection. A glimmer of resilience peeked through the curtain of misery that clouded her mind.

  You can’t keep crying. Arius needs you. You’ve got to stay strong and save him.

  Urma snorted and pronounced dismissively, “Dragons haven’t been seen in Mandar City for decades.”

  Wren folded his arms and glared at the sphinx. “I’m not lying.”

  “I’m not saying you are,” soothed Urma. “I’m just saying that, maybe, it’s possible you simply saw a large gluxxor?”

  A sudden need to stand up for the boy rose inside Sera and she met the sphinx’s eyes with a scowl. “You would do well not to discount Wren’s observations. Last time we met, you told me you knew that dragons still existed, yet you refuse to believe the kid when he says he saw one? The dragon he saw tonight is my Soulbound. He saved Mandar City from destruction by a second dragon bent on revenge. Now he’s been captured, and I assume he’s been taken to the IRC since there’s nowhere else in this country that would have a hope of containing him once he wakes up.”

  The sphinx gawked at her, wide-eyed. “Well now, aren’t you full of surprises.”

  Sera stood up. “They’ve taken my father too. I’m going with your team to the IRC and we will rescue them all.”

  Urma chuckled softly. “I understand your concern for the safety of your loved ones. Truly, I do. It is admirable that you wish to race into the heart of the enemy and save them. But we need to slow down and make a strategic plan. If we rush in there, guns blazing, we’ll all end up dead, the Little Birds will cease to exist, and mythics throughout our country will continue to suffer under the unjust rule of President Kaesus. Give us a few days to review the plans and discuss our options. Lay low until Wednesday, then come back here and we’ll tell you how you can help.” Sera opened her mouth to argue but Urma interrupted. “Thank you for your service, Tracker Seraphina. You’ve done remarkably well. The Little Birds are thrilled to accept you into our nest.” She took her leave with a curt flick of her tail, the stumps where her wings used to be catching the fluorescent light as she stalked away.

  With the file transfer complete, Sera left the desk and tramped to the sewer entrance. It wasn’t until she threw open the metal lid that she realised Wren had followed her.

  “You can’t come with me,” she said gently to the young boy.

  He crossed his arms and stuck out his lip petulantly. “I want to. You helped me with that angry baker months ago. It’s my turn to help you.”

  “No. I need to be alone. I’ve got to figure out my next step and I can’t be worrying about keeping you safe.”

  Wren shot a glance over his shoulder and whispered, “You’re not going to listen to Urma, are you?”

  She bit her lip and didn’t answer.

  “I won’t say anything,” he insisted. “I’m small and really good at hiding. I can help you.”

  “I appreciate the offer, Wren, but this is not a job you can help me with. I’m sorry.” Sera squeezed his shoulder before climbing down the ladder. She travelled through the now-familiar tunnels, and while she trudged through the dark sewer tried to connect to Arius. Her mind hit a wall. Pressing against the barrier with her consciousness, she found no weak place to break through to her Soulbound. Their connection had been blocked.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Sera had planned on sneaking in to her bedroom, changing into more comfortable clothes and filling her backpack with supplies. Preferably without waking Hazel. But as she slipped silently into the apartment she yelped when the lights flicked on. Hazel greeted her from the lounge with a scathing glare and arms folded, her eyeliner smudged and her dark hair a mess of curls.

  “What in Ghaia’s name was that, Sera? You didn’t think to mention that Arius is a freaking dragon?” she shrieked, her voice growing shriller with each word.

  “Shut up, Hazel,” Sera hissed, placing an urgent finger to her lips. “I don’t want our neighbours to hear.” Glancing at her PSB, she added quietly, “It’s two am. Why are you still awake?”

  “Waiting to see whether you were going to show up!”

  Sera stared at her friend, surprised by her abnormally harsh tone. She didn’t have time for this, but Hazel did deserve an explanation. Chewing her lip, she opened her mouth and closed it again, wondering where to begin.

  “You need to start talking, Sera, right now.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Hazel crossed her arms. “What for?”

  “About your dress, for starters.” Sera gestured at the tattered fabric. “And for not telling you about Arius. The thing is, it wasn’t my secret to share. The dragons have been in hiding since the Mythic War. I couldn’t reveal them, even to you.”

  “You mean there’re more dragons than just Arius and that black one?”

  “A lot more, by the sounds of it. I guess we’ll find out soon, now that Desamor’s mind is broken and Arius has been taken captive,” she said bitterly.

  “Oh, my gosh! I had no idea. Are you okay?” Her friend rushed to give her a hug.

  Squeezing her briefly, Sera drew back and said, “I will be. I can’t stay here though, Hazel. I’ve got to save him. I don’t have time to explain everything, but the President will be after me now. I’m going to disappear for a while. I can’t say where or for how long; I don’t want you involved any more than you already are. I’m going to grab my backpack and get changed, then I’ll get out of your hair.”

  Tears shimmered behind Hazel’s glasses, but she swallowed hard and nodded her understanding. When Sera strode towards her bedroom, Hazel hurried to her work station and pulled tubs and vials off the shelves. Following Sera, she dumped the containers onto her bed.

  “You might need these. I’ve included things such as Heal and Filter and some other treatments I’ve been experimenting with. They may not work properly as they haven’t been tested, but I’ve written notes on the labels, explaining what they’re supposed to do. Hopefully it helps.”

  Sera shot a grin at Hazel before disappearing into her ensuite to change. She called out the door, “That’s perfect, thank you so much.” She threaded her belt through the loops, attaching Firin
ne’s sheath and her pistol’s holster as she went. Throwing on her jacket over her shirt, she swiftly deposited a canteen of water, Hazel’s treatments, some dried food and the Seeing Stone into her backpack. She hesitated as she deliberated whether to take the blue feather. Throwing caution to the wind, she carefully placed it in a side pocket.

  Hazel sighed and offered a sad smile. “Time for you to go, I guess. If anyone asks, I’ll say I never saw you after the Choosing.”

  “Thanks a bunch, Hazel. I owe you big time.” Sera hugged her friend and wondered how she’d ever repay her.

  “Just come back safe.” Her friend buried her face into her shoulder before giving her a peck on the cheek. Wiping her tears away from under her glasses, she helped Sera pull the backpack’s straps over her shoulders. “Good luck, Sera,” she whispered.

  “Thanks again, Hazel. See you on the other side.” Sera attempted a cheery wave to lighten the tension before leaving her friend alone in their home.

  Sneaking out the front door of her apartment building, she dashed around the side. Keeping to the back alleys of Mandar City, Sera hugged the walls of the concrete jungle, hiding in the shadows. Unsurprisingly, there were plenty of squab patrols out tonight. Sera’s mouth curled up at the memory of Wren’s nickname for the IRC guards. Her smile faded when she considered whether they were only on the lookout for more dragon attacks or whether they could be hunting her. She had to utilise all of her Tracker skills to blend in and avoid detection.

  When she finally made it out of the city, the sun’s first rays were peeking over the horizon. Fatigue dragged at her limbs but she couldn’t stop her dogged march yet. She’d been awake for twenty-four hours now and would need to rest before she launched her rescue plan. Slowly, she traipsed through the forest to the south of Mandar City until she found the clearing where she and Arius had slumbered together. The grass was trampled and furrows marred the earth where his talons had dug in. With a melancholy sigh, she sought out a comfortable spot in Arius’ imprint and lay down. Before giving in to her exhaustion, she tried once more to connect to her Soulbound. The barrier remained in place, however she sensed a tugging in her chest to the north. He was almost certainly incarcerated at the Iniques Rehabilitation Centre. Mind made up to launch a rescue once she’d recovered, she relaxed into the earth. Her eyes immediately closed and she fell into a deep sleep as the rising sun painted her skin with its gentle caress.

  ***

  The snorting of a nearby creature roused Sera. Jerking awake, she panicked and leapt up, eyes struggling open in the late afternoon sun, and brandished Firinne wildly. The amused expressions of Tor and Idris met her when she finally stopped stumbling around the clearing.

  The lynx spoke first. “I applaud your enthusiasm for battle, but, and I mean no offence when I say this, if we had been an enemy, you’d be dead right now.”

  Tor sniggered but stopped short when Sera glared at him. “I mean, he’s right, but we’re not, so it’s all good.” He waggled his eyebrows in an attempt to distract her.

  Scrubbing the sleep from her eyes, she mumbled, “Hi, you two.”

  “How are you, Sera? Arius mentioned we were meeting to plan a rescue mission for your father. Speaking of, where is Arius?” Tor asked as he looked around the clearing, puzzled by the obvious absence of the dragon.

  “He’s been captured,” she replied grimly. Tor and Idris stared at her, aghast, as they waited for her explanation. “Desamor attacked the city last night, and Arius defended us. We managed to stop Desamor, but Arius was taken away after the battle.” She couldn’t bring herself to tell them how she’d broken the black dragon’s mind. That story could wait for another day.

  “Four Gods help us,” Idris muttered in horror.

  Sera continued, “I believe he’s been taken to the IRC, so I need to sneak in there to rescue both him and my father. I have a copy of the IRC plans, my weapons, and my ability to sense auras, but that’s about it. It will be dangerous, so I ask for your help with the understanding that you have every right to decline my request. What say you?”

  The lynx and the hippogryph shared a look before Tor stepped forward and bowed his head to the ground. “You have my wings, sweet girl. Bels won’t be pleased, but this is bigger than all of us. She’ll get over it. Eventually.”

  “Bels?” Sera raised a questioning eyebrow at the mention of the bay hippogryph.

  “Ah, yes, she and I have started our own flock now. I know, I know, she wore me down,” he said with a wink. “I swear, I will do everything in my power to assist you in your quest to rescue Arius and your father, Sera. Should I perish on this grand adventure, make sure Bels knows of my heroic acts,” he added dramatically.

  Idris snorted at the hippogryph’s theatrics before adding his own pledge. “I offer you my claws. When do you wish to launch your rescue mission?”

  “Arius is the first dragon they’ve captured since the Mythic War. I’m worried about whether they will keep him alive. I can’t connect with his mind, but I sense that he’s still alive. For now, at least. Time is of the essence so I’m going tonight.”

  “Well, it sounds as if there’s no time to waste, so hop aboard and let’s get going!” declared Tor and knelt, allowing Sera to mount. “Race you there, cat!” He snapped his beak playfully at Idris and, as soon as Sera was securely tucked in behind his feathery wings, cantered for a few strides before leaping into the dusky sky.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  A couple of kilometres north-west of the Iniques Rehabilitation Centre, Sera stashed her backpack and jacket inside a hollow tree trunk in the forest. She figured it would be easier to stay undetected without a bulky pack slowing her down. Plus, if she was captured during the rescue, they wouldn’t let her keep her gear anyway. It would be better left out here in case she had to make a run for it and needed food and treatments whilst hiding in the wilds. The only two ointments that she included in a pouch attached to her belt were a container of Heal and a spray bottle of Freeze. One of Hazel’s creations, the label on Freeze said that if sprayed directly on the lens, it would halt the security camera’s footage. Patting Firinne and her pistol, Sera ensured her weapons were secure in their sheaths. Whilst she prepared her gear, Idris sat nearby, his tail twitching in agitation, annoyed that Tor and Sera had beaten him to the meeting point.

  He's crowing like an overgrown rooster that got into the grain. Idris projected his exasperated thoughts to Sera.

  She chuckled. Tor is Tor. You’ll just have to get over it, I’m afraid.

  I don’t need to worry about being killed in the IRC. He’s going to frustrate me to death before we even get inside.

  Ignoring the irritated lynx who was now baring his teeth at Tor’s victory trot, she tapped her PSB and brought up the plans for the IRC to review their route. Dragging the image of the building around to the eastern border, she spread her fingers to zoom in on the hidden entrance that they’d be using to enter the grounds. As she studied the blueprint one last time, the screen flickered and the MRO logo of two intertwined circles replaced it.

  A tinny, robotic voice cleared its throat from the small speaker on her wristband and said, “Hello, Tracker Seraphina. This is Frank. Please note, this is a pre-recorded message, I cannot hear you in real-time. When I transferred the blueprint across to your Personal Security Band, I also transferred a part of myself to assist with your mission. If you require my assistance to open a locked entry or exit, simply hold your PSB to the control panel. I should be able to remotely break the code and open the door for you.”

  The voice disappeared and the blueprint of the IRC returned while Sera gawked in shock. After a moment, she grinned at her companions and said, “Well, that’s handy.”

  “Who is Frank?” asked Idris.

  “He’s the Artificial Intelligence that works in the Mythic Relations Office. He’s the one who managed to steal the IRC blueprints from the President and transfer them to me.”

  “Huh. And you’re sure we can trust hi
m?” The lynx stalked close to Sera and locked eyes, his molten amber gaze piercing.

  She shifted uneasily and answered hesitantly, “I think so. He’s the only reason we got the plans in the first place. Plus, he hid me from a guard. At the end of the day, I don’t think we have much choice. This is the only way we can get Arius and Dad out of there.”

  Idris inclined his head, accepting her decision. Together, the three of them slunk toward the tree line. Staying under the cover of the canopy, they circled around to the east of the IRC towards the concealed entrance. The night was warmer than expected and a hush lay over the forest, as if all the creatures watched the trio in quiet anticipation. As they travelled around the northern boundary, she kept a wary eye to her right. The entire prison was enclosed by a dome of electrified wire mesh to halt the escape of flighted mythics, and in the interior there was barbed wire fencing that sectioned off parts of the exercise yard. Sera silently thanked the Gods that only a small sliver of moon lit the sky tonight. Whilst she was pragmatic that there was a high chance of them being caught, she couldn’t help firmly holding onto the belief that they’d all make it out alive.

  Idris’ keen nose detected the heavy metal door in the ground, even though it was covered by ferns and grass. Once they’d cleared off the worst of the undergrowth, Sera followed Frank’s instructions and brought her PSB up to the control panel built-in beside the door handle. A loud click echoed through the quiet night and she smiled triumphantly.

  “Frank came through with the goods!” she crowed before tugging on the handle.

  The heavy door groaned as it swung open, and Idris was quick to dart behind it to help her lower it gently to the ground. A short set of metal stairs greeted them, leading to a dark, metal-plated tunnel. The three of them slipped inside and left the door open behind them. Sera immediately noticed a security camera and sprayed the lens with Freeze, praying Hazel’s creation worked the way she claimed it would. Even in the darkness, she felt terribly exposed as they hurried down the underground corridor together. Her boots thumped softly against the metal floor, while Idris kept pace on silent paws and Tor’s hoofbeats echoed loudly. Sera winced. She hadn’t anticipated how much noise they’d make.